Washing machine



July 27 '1926. Y 1,593,116

` N. Fox

WASHING'MAGHINE Filed May '20', 1922 Az Fox www@ atented duly lL; 1.926..

` l S T T E S' NICHOLAS rox, or LAKE ANDES, scum DAKOTA.

. WASHING MACHINE.

Application led May 2D, 1922. Serial Noi. 562,288.

My invention relates to improvements in washing machines, and it consists in the combinations, constructions, and arrangements herein described and claimed.

An object of my invention is to provide a Washing machine of the character described in Which the cover that supports the oscillating dolly may be opened while the de'-` vice is in operation to observe the condition of the contents of the washer without first disconnect-ing manually any part of the mechanism.

A further object of my invention is to provide a washing machine of the character described having Wringer rolls and means for releasing the tension ofthe wringer rolls at both ends as in the event of an accident or the like, the means for releasing the rolls being entirely disposed beneath the rollers. This novel structure does away with the ordinary type of safety device that is mounted at the top ofthe rollers, and in most cases, prevents ,the observation of the' rollers While they are in operation.

A further object of my invention is to provide a washing machine of the character described in which the wringer may be swung in a horizontalplaneand' locked in a predetermined position while the device is in operation. v

A further object of my invention is to provide a device of the character described that is extremely simple in construction, and

thoroughly practical for the purpose `intended.

Other objects and advantages will appear in the following specification, and the novel features of the invention will be particularly pointed out in the appended claim.

My invention is illustrated in the accom--A panying drawings, forming part of this application, in which Figure 1 is a top plan view of an embodiment of my invention, 'i

Figure 2 is a side elevation, partly in section, of the Inechanismillustrated in Figure All) I1 with the gear case cover removed,

Figure 3 'is a sectional view along the line 3-3 of Figure 2,

Figure 4 is a sectional view along the line 4-4 of Figure 2,

Figure 5 is a sectional view along the line 55 of Figure 2,

Figure 6 is a sectional view along the line 6-6 of Figure 2,'d A

Figure 7.

Figure 7 is a sectional View along the line 7-7 of Figure 1. i

In carrying out my invention, l make use of a' washing tub 1 of metal or other suitable material. The tub 1 is provided with a cover 2 hingedly mounted thereto by hinges 3.

A. dolly 4 is rotatably mounted on the cover 2, the central shaft 5 thereof extending up through the top 6 ofthe cover. A geai' wheel 7 is Carried by the upwardly extending' portion of the shaft 5, as shown in A second gear 8 is rotatably mounted on the cover 2 and has its teeth in mesh with thev gear 7. Means for oscillating the gear 8 so thatthe dolly 4 may be driven with an pscillatory movement is provided as folows.

A gearhousing 9 is supported upon theV gear 13 is arranged so that its teeth are at all times -in mesh with the gear 11. The worm gear 13 is driven by means of an electric motor 15 and a belt 16 which connects the motor 15 with a pulley wheel 17 carried by the shaft 14.

An outwardly extending supporting arm 19, forming an integral part of the .housingv .7, is provided and extends'to a point in alinement with the gears 8 and 7 on the cover 2 when the cover is in place. A rock shaft 20- is supportedl upon the extension 19 and a broken gear 21 is carried by the rock shaftA 20. The gean 21 is operatively connected to the eccentric plate 12 by means of a pitman 22 so that rotation of the .gear 11 is brought about by the operation of the motor 15, and will cause the eccentric plate 12 to move the pitman with a reciprocative movement and thus oscillate the gear 21.

rlhe shaft 10, as described, extends upwardly from within the housing 9 and serves as a means to rotatably support a gear casing-23, a nut 24 being provided to limit the vertical movement of the casing 23 on the shaft 10. A pair of bevel gears 24 and 25 are keyed to the shaft within the casing 23, and a third bevel gear 26 is rotatably mounted intermediate the gears 24 and 25 so that vertical movement of the gears 24 and 25 on the shaft 10 will cause them to alternately engage the gear 26.

Means for reciprocating the-gears 24 and 25 on the shaftl() isprovided in a lever 27,

operatively connected to a cam 28 disposed between the adjacent surfaces of the gears 24 and 25. This is clearly shown in Figy ure 5.

The gear 2G' is operatively connected to a pair of wringer rollers 29 and 30 rotatably supported upon an extension 31 of the casing 23 (see Figure 2).

Means i'or locking the casing 23 at anyone `of a predetermined number of positions in a horizontal plane, is provided in a plurality of notches in the' top surface 33 of the housing 9, and a spring-pressed plunger 34 carried by the casing 23. The plunger 34 -maybeelevated out of engagement with the notches 32 by pressure upon a hand lever 35 operativelyA connected to the plunger 34,

as shown in Figure 2.

Means for obviating the possibility of an accident by an operator catching .his or her han'dsor clothing between the wringer rolls 29 and 30, is provided in a pair of loop members 36 arranged to engage the opposite ends of the roller 30, as shown in dotted linesin Figure 2. The 'lower ends of the members 36 are enga-ged by opposite ends thereof may be readily understood. In using my Washer, I first place water having soap and other cleansing ingredients in the tub. I then insert the articles to be washed. The cover 2 is then closed and the motor 15 connected to a source of power.

The motor 15 will cause the worm gear 13 to rotate and drive the worm wheel 11. As

the worm wheel l1 operates, the pitman 22 will reciprocate and cause the gear 2l to oscillate. Since the gear 21 is in mesh with the gear 8, and the gear 8 isin mesh with the gear 7, the dolly 4 will `move with an oscillatory movement, i. e., a given numberofrevolutions one direction, and a subsequent and like number of revolutions in the opposite direction.

If it is desired to swing the rollers 29 and 30 to a certain point in the horizontal plane, it is' merely necessary to press the hand lever 35 and manuallyv swing the wringer to any desired position. It is not necessary to stop the operation of the machine in swinging the rollers.

To operate the rollers 29 and 30, as in wringing clothes, it is merely necessary to lll.

move the lever 27 to the right or tothe left.

Movement in one direction will cause the rollers to revolve toward the top, and movement in'the opposite direction will cause "the rollers to rotate awayv from the top.

1When the lever 27 is in a vertical position, the rollers 29 and 30 do not move, since the gear 26 is then out of mesh with the gears 24 and 25.

To release the tension of the roller 30, as in the case of an accident, it is merely necessary to manually move the lever 40. This will instantly release pressure upon the spring 38, and the members 36 Will relax in their engagement with the roller 30.

I claim:

A washing machine comprising a tub, a cover hingedly mounted on said tub, a workengagingmeehanism operatively mounted on said cover and including a Igear lying in a plane parallel with the cover and a second gear in mesh with said first named gear and projecting beyond the edge of the cover, a mutilated gear mounted upon said tub and lying in the same plane as said first and said second named gears when said cover is in closed position, said mutilated gear being adapted to mesh with said sec lond named gear when said cover is in closed position, and power-actuated means i'or oscillating the mutilated gear, said cover being hinged along an edge disposed par allel with a line extending through the centers of said. first and second named gears and said mutilated gear.

NICHOLAS FOX. 

